Using the Research Domain Criteria Framework to Explore Associations Between MMPI–2–RF Constructs and Physiological Variables Assessed by Eye-Tracker Technology

Abstract

The National Institute of Mental Health has proposed a paradigm shift in the conceptualization of psychopathology, abandoning the traditional categorical model in favor of one based on hierarchically organized dimensional constructs (Insel et al., 2010 ). One explicit goal of this initiative, the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project, is to facilitate the incorporation of newly available neurobiologic variables into research on psychopathology. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011 ) represents a similar paradigm shift, also adopting a hierarchical arrangement of dimensional constructs. This study examined associations between MMPI-2-RF measures of psychopathology and eye-movement metrics. Participants were college students (n = 270) who completed the MMPI-2-RF and then viewed a sequence of 30-s video clips. Results show a pattern of positive correlations between pupil size and emotional/internalizing dysfunction scales when viewing video eliciting negative emotional reactions, reflecting greater arousability in individuals with higher scores on these measures. In contrast, when viewing stimuli depicting angry, threatening material, a clear pattern of negative correlations was found between pupil size and behavioral/externalizing trait measures. These data add to the construct validity of the MMPI-2-RF and support the use of the RDoC matrix as a framework for research on psychopathology.

MMPI-3 scale predictors of reactions to ostracism in a sample of racially diverse college students.

“…Findings also shed preliminary light on these associations across racialized groups and highlight the demand for further assessment research in racially diverse samples. As few studies connect transdiagnostic RDoC constructs to the MMPI family of instruments and few studies examine MMPI-3 associations with experimental or behavioral tasks (Anestis et al, 2021; McCord et al, 2017), this study highlights a great need to expand MMPI research from a reliance on self-report or chart review to connect the MMPI-3 to broader psychological science research.…”

“…The evolution of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) family of instruments represents decades of advances in knowledge of psychopathology and personality (see Sellbom, 2019), and the recent release of the MMPI-3 (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2020a, 2020b) represents an important next step. One sizable gap in the MMPI construct validation literature is a lack of evidence using behavioral tasks designed to acutely assess real-time emotional or other states in a laboratory setting as the criterion (see Anestis et al, 2021, and McCord et al, 2017, for two recent exceptions). Such tasks are replete in the psychological science literature, and recent funding trends prioritize behavioral and psychophysiological transdiagnostic indicators of psychopathology above self-report tools [see, for example, Research Domain Criteria (RDoC; Insel et al, 2010)].…”

Linking RDoC and HiTOP: A new interface for advancing psychiatric nosology and neuroscience

“…Evidence of associations between reduced arousal and psychopathic traits (Lorber, 2004;Shirtcliff et al, 2009) further indicate a primary link with the Antagonistic Externalizing spectrum. The Antisocial Behavior subfactor also shows a primary link, via associations of low skin conductance with conduct problems (Lorber, 2004), and of low pupil dilation during video-clips eliciting externalizing reactions with antisocial behavior and aggression (McCord et al, 2017). Finally, evidence of enhanced behavioral activation during mania suggests a secondary link of Arousal with Mania subfactor (Geissler et al, 2014;Hegerl and Hensch, 2014).…”

“…The Arousal construct shows a positive primary link to the Distress subfactor, based on associations of measures of distress (e.g. hopelessness, demoralization, stress/worry, generalized anxiety) with increased pupil dilatation during video-clips eliciting internalizing reactions (McCord et al, 2017) agitation (Leventhal et al, 2008;Parker et al, 1993), and high cortisol productivity (Kircanski et al, 2017). High Arousal is also primarily linked to Fear via studies showing associations between skin conductance and social anxiety (Dieleman et al, 2015;Panayiotou et al, 2017).…”

“…Thought Disorder (-) I Gold et al, 2019Ettinger et al, 2018Lencz et al, 2003Sabharwal et al, 2016Schmidt-Hansen & Honey, 2009Seidman et al, 2016Wolf et al, 2015Xie et al, 2018 Performance Notes: Definitions of each RDoC construct are provided in the RDoC matrix (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-funded-bynimh/rdoc/constructs/rdoc-matrix.shtml). et al, 1993Leventhal et al, 2008McCord et al, 2017Kircanski et al, 2017 Hyper Notes: Definitions of each RDoC construct are provided in the RDoC matrix (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-funded-bynimh/rdoc/constructs/rdoc-matrix.shtml).…”